Abrp, a new gene, confers reduced susceptibility to tetracycline, glycylcine, chloramphenicol and fosfomycin classes in Acinetobacter baumannii

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2016 Aug;35(8):1371-5. doi: 10.1007/s10096-016-2674-0. Epub 2016 May 24.

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii, a non-fermenting gram-negative coccobacillus, is a major pathogen responsible for a variety of healthcare-associated infections, including pneumonia, urinary tract and bloodstream infections. Moreover, A. baumannii is associated with alarming increases in drug resistance rates to almost all available antibiotics leaving limited treatment options. Here, we characterize the biological functions of a novel gene, abrp, which encodes a peptidase C13 family. We demonstrate that the abrp is associated with decreased susceptibility to tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline, tigecycline, chloramphenicol and fosfomycin. Deletion of abrp was able to increase cell membrane permeability and display slower cell growth rate. Results from the present study show that abrp plays an important role in conferring reduced susceptibility to different classes of antibiotics and cell growth in A. baumannii. The change of antibiotic sensitivities may result from modifications to the cell membrane permeability of A. baumannii.

MeSH terms

  • Acinetobacter baumannii* / drug effects
  • Acinetobacter baumannii* / genetics
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Chloramphenicol / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Fosfomycin / pharmacology
  • Genes, Bacterial / genetics
  • Membrane Potentials / genetics
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Peptide Hydrolases / genetics*
  • Peptide Hydrolases / physiology
  • Tetracyclines / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Tetracyclines
  • Fosfomycin
  • Chloramphenicol
  • Peptide Hydrolases